Welcome to the Official Website of

Have a hard headed dog that refuses to go outside?  This is a common issue I get asked about all the time.  Below are a series of emails typical to this situation which may help you and your dog.   Photos below that to show what I talk about in the text.  I will put my answer first, so you don't have to read anything to get the info you want, and everything else after in case you do want to read the whole story.

A: Hi Kate,
 
Ah yes, the stubborn dog who doesn't want to go outside.  This is one of those things that is really quick and easy to solve, I can describe it quickly and demonstrate techniques, but it takes a little time and effort for me to try to type it all out, so bear with me and I'll give it a shot (as always, feel free to give me a phone call and we can talk in more detail).
 
This can be difficult, at first.  Again, the same as teaching anything new to a dog, it takes time and patience.  Keep your mind's eye on the end result and remember you are laying the foundation for years and years of good behavior from your dog and a solid, loving relationship for the both of you.  Gear yourself up to put in the work, no matter what it takes.  Once you ready yourself mentally and prepare yourself for the inevitable mistakes and such, you'll be surprised how quickly change for the better happens.
 
First and foremost, you have to catch the dog in the act of going, grab it by the collar and drag it outside - make it rough and uncomfortable for the dog so that it understands how much you hate it when it goes inside.  Don't wait for the dog to finish, grab and drag while it's going.  I know, it might make a mess, leave a trail, etc. but this is the best way to do it, and hopefully, you'll only have to do it once.   Catching the dog in the act is the single most effective way to deal with this, the dog knows, right here and now, this is no longer going to be acceptable behavior.
 
What I suggest to people when they are getting a new dog is to use some vacation time from work if at all possible, a week is best, but if you could take a Friday and a Monday off, that would give you 4 straight days.  I can house train ANY dog in 4 days.  I recently rescued a pitbull from craig's list and after 4 days, she was completely and 100% house trained.  But it takes constant supervision until the dog gets it.  The more time you can put in right at the start, the quicker you'll have the results you want.  If you can't do that, then you'll have less time and more mistakes and it will take longer.  It will still happen, just not as quickly, it will take longer and more work and you will have more mistakes - but that's ok, too, just realize what you're in for and the more you put in up front, the quicker you get a return.
 
As I mentioned, the best, most effective way to deal with it is to catch the dog in the act.  But even after the fact you can let the dog know you don't like it.  If you spot a pile somewhere and you didn't see the dog do it, you can still let him know you're not happy about it.  You do not have to rub the dog's nose in it or hit the dog or anything like, simply point to the droppings and in a disgusted tone of voice ask, "What's that?"  Put your hands on your hips, point at the pile, or whatever you do to let the dog know you're not happy at all.
 
A key to this I can point out is that we are not so much trying to train the dog to go potty outside, what we are really after is trying to train the dog to hold while he's inside, that it's not ok to go inside.  That little difference can help you mentally understand what we're after.
 
The dog has gotten somewhat established in his pattern here, and I gather what you've been doing so far has not been working, so the first stages are always the toughest and require the most work and the most patience.  But after the initial hump, it gets much easier, and better, and you get results quicker.
 
If you take the dog out and it doesn't go right away, you have to wait. You have to!!  If it takes an hour, 2 hours!!  Whatever, brace yourself for it and do it.  Again, each and every time thereafter it will take less and less time.  When the dog goes, use a simple command, something like 'go potty' or 'do your business' - so the dog learns.  After several repetitions, the dog WILL learn to go on command.  Also, make a big deal of showing praise and affection each and everytime the dog goes outside for you - again, this is just in the beginning, to get him to understand.  Once he gets it,  you won't have to keep with the praise and all that.  So for the first few times, prepare yourself mentally - it is a battle of wits between you and your dog and you have to win.  Bring out a book and glass of tea, if that will help you stick it out.  Read the book and ignore the dog, just watching out of the corner of your eye for when he goes so you can praise him.  Just dragging him out and standing there waiting impatiently, tapping your foot or whatever, he's not going to want to go under those circumstances (who would!!)  The dog will sense your impatience and anxiety, and will react accordingly.  Acting like you couldn't care less and ignoring him will make it not such a big deal, he'll relax more and probably go quicker.
 
Pee pads and all that do work, but they have to be trained as well.  Right now, the dog probably doesn't know it can go on them, more so it probably thinks it is in the wrong to go on them.  So gentle patience works here, too.  Also, let the dog know by putting smells on the pads to let the dog know that's what they're for.  Use a little ammonia, put a few drops on the pee pad, it smells like urine and the dog's brain will get it.  Once or twice, again, only in the beginning, put a dropping on the pad.  I know, no fun here, but we're just teaching and showing the dog it's ok for droppings to be on the pad.  As with outside, anytime the dog goes on the pad, make a deal of praising and showing affection.  In the very beginning, praise the dog for even showing interest in the pad, looking at it, sniffing it, etc, praise the dog.
 
Another thing I will point out is that sometimes dogs learn to not go outside because it is the only attention they are getting.  In other words, since it gets no attention any other time, it learns that as soon as it does its business, it goes back in the house and gets ignored some more.  So it waits and waits and wait and doesn't go simply to extend the time you two are together outside.  Spend some attention on the dog at other times, too, especially before taking him outside, so this isn't the situation.
 
I would start by saying don't let the dog out on the first day.  Purposely wait until it absolutely HAS to go, and watch constantly, so you can catch him in the act - and then correct and drag outside as I described earlier.  You are kind of setting the dog up to fail, if you will.  You are setting up a situation for training purposes.  And pay attention during this time.  The dog will give you pointers as to when it's got to go.  All dogs are different, but it may start to get fidgety, it may come over and lick your hands, it may run around, look agitated, make small noises, run in circles, etc.  But it will do something, and you have to learn what that something is for your particular dog so you can act.  Eventually, you are going to change whatever that behavior is into going to the back door and either whining, scratching, giving a little bark, etc, to let you know.
 
A trick I use is that on the inside and outside of my back door I hang a little bell from a length of ribbon.  You don't even need to teach the dog to hit it or jingle it or anything like that.  Simply the sound of the bell everytime the dog goes in or out and in short order the dog will learn all by himself to give the bell a nudge and tell you it's gotta go out.  When he's done, he'll give a little jingle so you can let him back in.
 
Another thing I do is to make a short loop - take about 18 inches of thin nylon rope or twine. clothesline cord, or some such, fold it in half and tie a knot at the end, so what you have is a loop.  Attach it to the dog's collar using a cow hitch - just stick it through itself so it is connected without tying it.  What you have is a handle for the dog.  6 or 8 inches of cord you can quickly grab and drag the dog outside, but not as long and bulky and distracting as the dog dragging a leash around all the time.  Again, this is not a permanent deal, just while you are house training, or say, if the dog flips his lid anytime someone comes to the front door, etc.  Anytime you need immediate control over the dog, you can just grab the handle and give it a pop or pull the dog away from the bad situation.  I will click a picture or 2 so you can see what I am describing.
 
I am just about typed out!!  But I think I covered the basics for you.  Remember to keep in mind the end result we are after - it will help you calmly and patiently deal with the mistakes that will happen.  Also that it will require some work and grief up front, but that the return is great, years and years of a well behaved dog that is a good member of your family.
 
I really hope this helps and as always, feel free to give me a call anytime and we can talk in more detail.
 
Regards,
Brian

 

Q: I don't really have a huge problem and I am not going to get rid of my dog, but I am really getting discouraged. I rescued a dog from a family that did not have the time and money to care for her.. I think they were just lazy to be honest. She only wants to go outside to chase neighbors and when you stand in the freezing cold for 20mins all she does is whine to get back inside. Going to the bathroom outdoors is a challenge. I put down pee pee pads and she goes next to them! I work during the day but I try to come home on my lunch to take her out. I do live in an apartment so its not as easy as letting her out and making her stay out there.. I have to go out with her. I crate her during the day but I swear this dog doesnt get it... even when we yell at her.. she finds way to make magic poop appear when we arent looking. Santa dropped off Christmas presents under the tree and our dog decided to help... Its been frustrating. Any advice is great. We try to bribe, be consistent.. she is just a stubborn dog that learned BAD habits.

 

Thanks, Kate.

A: Hello,
 
Thanks for contacting me, I can help you.
Your email is interesting for a few reasons, I get the feeling maybe you could use some more knowledge and tools on dog behavior and how to get the behavior you want.
First of all, if you've had the dog for more than a few days, the former owners and situation have absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the dog now and the dog's behavior now.  The dog is reacting to the current situation and the current people, so thinking about the past and what the other people did is a mistake, as is blaming them for any behaviors you see that you don't like.  Dogs live in the here and now, and adjust quickly to new owners and new situations.
 
>>>>She only wants to go outside to chase neighbors and when you stand in the freezing cold for 20mins all she does is whine to get back inside. Going to the bathroom outdoors is a challenge. I put down pee pee pads and she goes next to them! I work during the day but I try to come home on my lunch to take her out. I do live in an apartment so its not as easy as letting her out and making her stay out there.. I have to go out with her. I crate her during the day but I swear this dog doesnt get it... even when we yell at her.. she finds way to make magic poop appear when we arent looking. Santa dropped off Christmas presents under the tree and our dog decided to help... Its been frustrating. Any advice is great. We try to bribe, be consistent.. she is just a stubborn dog that learned BAD habits. <<<<<<<<<
 
I understand your feelings, you probably go through things like, "I have no control over my dog right now" and "why is this crazy dog acting this way" - I can help, and I can give you the tools and knowledge to have complete control over your dog and to get the behavior you want.  I can explain the way the dog's brain works and why he does what he does, and how to shape and mold his behavior into what you desire.
 
Basically, the dog needs solid, consistent leadership.  Some of the things you say give me pause: bribing, yelling, frustration, are red flags to me.  You might want to consider having me to your home for a day of personalized instruction, I simply can't give all the knowledge and tools in an email, it would turn into a novel.
I would be glad to give you some advice and tips for free, if you'd like to give me a phone call.  You can try those things for a while, and if they aren't successful, you can consider further training.
 
I will say a few things here, briefly, that may help.  First of all, take a few minutes to consider life from the dog's point of view.  The dog needs rules, boundaries, and limitations.  It needs exercise, discipline and affection, in that order.
Dogs will basically mirror their owners personality.  Any anger, frustration, anxiety, fear, etc, that you feel will be reflected back by the dog's behaviors.  So your feelings are much more responsible for the dog's current behavior then anything the previous owners did.  You have to assume a confident, calm pack leader mentality.  You have to get a mental picture of what you want the dog to be like, and then it will happen.  You cannot allow yourself to get angry, frustrated, etc, because the dog will feel that and then you'll get behaviors you don't like.
 
You have to take the time to instruct the dog as to what is acceptable behavior and what isn't.  You have to show him something is wrong before you can hold him accountable for it and make him responsible.  The dog isn't going to magically know all the rules and such, it takes time and patience to teach them.
Also, you have to consider what the dog wants and needs.  It does not want material things, it doesn't care about your house, apartment, whatever, or anything in it.  It doesn't care about toys or anything else, it never wants anything material.  It just wants your attention and to be with you.  And it doesn't necessarily want love, it just wants ATTENTION, good bad or otherwise.
 
If you get angry or frustrated, it doesn't matter to the dog, it wins, it's getting your attention.  If you allow yourself to get angry, yell, get frustrated, etc, you are letting the dog win.  It has your complete, undivided attention when you are in that state of mind.  The dog will quickly learn what buttons to push to get you into that state so that, again, it has your full attention.  You have to learn to stay calm and positive and assertive and give the dog the attention it craves in that state of mind, you will immediately start to see better, calmer behavior from the dog.
 
I do not mean to be insulting or abusive to you, or run you down or anything like that.  I hope this doesn't come across that way.  It's just that you don't have the facts and I'm trying to provide the information.  If you don't know, then it may come across in a bad way, but it's just that you don't know and I'm trying to give the basic information.  It may reflect badly, but don't take it that way, just take as new information that you have to assimilate and put into practice.
 
Let me finish by saying that you have to become an expert in dog behavior, not any dog or all dogs, but YOUR dog.  You have to observe your dog and spend enough time with your dog that you can tell exactly what it's thinking, exactly what it's going to do, etc, just by a glance.  Your dog will then become an expert of you and your behavior (and what is desirable and undesirable).  With my dogs, all it takes is a look, not a hard stare or anything like that, just a momentary glance in the dogs direction, to get the behaviors and state of mind that I want, and I deal with pitbulls and Rotties, most of whom have a history of violence and attacks.  You want and need to get there to have complete control over your dog, and as I mentioned, I can help you get there.  I do it for people every single day.
 
I usually get through to the dog in a matter of mere seconds or minutes.  It takes longer to explain to people what I did and how they can do it for themselves, that might take 2 or 3 hours, or more, depending on your instincts and how fast you learn what I have to teach.
 
Feel free to give me a call anytime and I can tell you more and answer any questions or concerns that you have.
 
Hope this helps!

Regards,
Brian